A quarter of a century ago, Puratos introduced a new brand to the professional chocolate market: Belcolade. Since then, Belcolade has become synonymous for real Belgian chocolate and a trusted chocolate supplier for thousands of chocolate professionals around the world.
Belcolade’s origins can be traced back to the 1980’s, when many of Belgium’s large flagship chocolate companies were in the midst of corporate mergers and acquisitions. In light of this activity, Brussels-based Puratos, a supplier of ingredients to the bakery, pastry and confectionery segments, decided to protect one of the most precious elements of Belgium's culinary heritage: real Belgian chocolate.
As a result, in 1988, Puratos launched a new brand offering the finest quality chocolate produced exclusively in Belgium— in Erembodegem — west of the Belgian capital. The new brand was Belcolade, which represented the culmination of a collective passion for the great taste of real Belgian chocolate.
Over the last 25 years, Belcolade has become known and respected for its taste and quality, and as a result, it is used by thousands of chocolate professionals around the world.
Eddy Vann Belle, chairman of the Puratos Group and one of the driving forces behind Belcolade, comments: “Belcolade stands for real Belgian chocolate, which is a unique combination of taste, processing and creativity, all produced in Belgium with the greatest respect for the chocolate making tradition and with an everlasting passion for the product. Over the last 25 years, I have seen Belcolade grow into the global player it is today, and I am convinced that our continued investments and innovations will see Belcolade grow even further in the future.”
At the heart of Belcolade’s innovation process lies the Chocolate Centre, a hub of expertise, where new products are developed, recipes are tested and knowledge is exchanged between chocolate professionals from around the world.
An extensive product portfolio
The Belcolade product portfolio includes Belcolade Selection, a wide range of top-quality chocolates with different tastes and different viscosities for a great variety of applications.
In addition, there is the exclusive Belcolade Origins range, a selection of single-origin chocolates from around the world, each offering the ultimate experience of real Belgian chocolate. This collection comprises very specific flavor profiles that have been carefully mapped via Les Arômes de Cyrano, a sensory analysis tool developed by Belcolade to describe the unique characteristics of single origin chocolates.
On top of that, Belcolade can develop specific flavors according to individual requirements, which results in a unique and unlimited variety of flavors designed to inspire and to support the world's best chocolatiers, bakers and pastry chefs.
Today, consumers are also attaching increasingly more importance to authenticity and sustainability. That is why Belcolade also offers a range of 100% organic chocolates and a sustainable range with Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance and UTZ certifications.
To guarantee the very best quality, all Belcolade chocolates are made with 100% cocoa butter and 100% vanilla. For more information, visit www.belcolade.com.